Page 7 - Mid Valley Times 2-13-20 E-edition

The View From Here
I found myself on Palm Avenue and Nees Av- enue in the north east Fresno area needing to be in Reedley within the hour.
Like most days when I’m on one side of the county and need to be on the oppo- site side of the county, I take the freeway. It’s the fastest route.
My next choice was ei- ther taking Highway 99 to Manning or Highway 180 to Reed Avenue? I figured I’d take the 180, it’s more of a familiar route and somehow my brain mapped it out to be a shorter commute.
As I traveled east on Highway 180, nothing seemed different. I passed Clovis, then Bethel, then Academy.
Something happened how- ever when I reached Center- ville. The route seemed dif- ferent but I couldn’t quite figure out why.
As I continued driving I noticed the road was open, there several more lanes, traffic was not as congested.
Then suddenly I came up on a stoplight. “What is hap- pening here?” I thought to myself. I’ve never seen this before. The green street sign over the light read “REED AVE.”
Now I was really con- fused.
This didn’t look like the Reed I was use to seeing. What happened? I turned to my left and saw the adjacent stop light. “HIGHWAY 180” it read. I then realized, the road construction was fin- ished. And it looked amazing. I was pleasantly surprised at how nice and smooth the ride was.
I tried to remember what the road looked like before?
The two lane road through Minkler onto Reed, that is now gone. Not sure what I felt in that moment, but I knewthat gonewasasmall part of county roads that we are so use to driving on.
The country roads that sometimes fill our wind- shields with bugs and dust.
The county roads that ev- eryone around here seems to complain about. Gone was that little part of history.
The $55 million project, or the “Kings Canyon Ex- pressway Project,” was built to improve our roads and af- ter years of being under con- struction, today it was open.
I couldn’t help but feel a bittersweet sense of appreci- ation for the small road that helped so many of us reach
SEE COLUMN on page A9
By Juanita Adame
Mid Valley Times
The annual St. La Salle Ben- efit Auction is held once a year and usually takes place during the first Saturday in the month of February.
For one night, community members, dignitaries, parents and teachers attend the auc- tion to mingle and raise money for a good cause.
The items sold consist of hand made quilts, engraved wooden benches, embroidery pieces and are made by stu- dents and teachers. The proj- ects take months to complete and can sell for upwards of $2,000.
This years auction, held on Feb. 1, at the Reedley Com- munity Center was no differ- ent. Hundreds gathered to en- joy the evening with friends
while raising money for a good cause. One of those in attendance was a man named Michael Imbrogno.
Imbrogno, the professional auctioneer whose fast talk- ing skills and quick wit was responsible for engaging and entertaining the crowd.
“Everyone thinks that an auctioneer they just talk fast well it’s more of a chant and a cadence,” said Imbrogno dur- ing the event.
“So really, if you listen to the number rather than the words that are in between the numbers which are called fill- er words, you’re able to follow along.”
Imbrogno said his unique auctioneer chant is one he’d practice for hours in front of a mirror.
“So one example might be,”
See AUCTIONonpageA8
Juanita Adame
St. La Salle School celebrates benefit auction
Winter royalty crowned in Dinuba
Juanita Adame / Mid Valley Times
Michael Imbrogno, a professional auctioneer worked the annual St. La Salle Benefit auction on Feb. 1. Imbrogno has been working as an auctioneer for nearly 30 years.
Sanger High's newest resource officer hopes to inspire students
Contributed
Dinuba High School crowned its Winter Homecoming King and Queen during halftime of the boys’ basketball game on Jan. 30. This year’s royalty were Michael Gomez and Ebony Rodriguez.
Contributed
Sanger Police Depart- ment’s officer Fernando Gar- cia has been assigned to mon- itor the campus at Sanger High School.
In a statement on the de- partment’s Facebook page, Garcia said he felt he would be a good fit and positive role model for students.
"I love being a police offi- cer and changing young lives one day at a time,” said Gar- cia. “I was born and raised in Fresno surrounded by gangs, violence and drugs."
“I try my best to incorpo- rate my positive vibes,” he continued. “Encouragement and a support system for stu- dents. You can always see me laughing and smiling along with the students.”
Courtesy Sanger Police Dept.
Ofc. Fernando Garcia
Garcia said his belief is that building trust between law enforcement and youth is important.
“It will help them,” he said. “To become successful and responsible adults.”
There are close to 3,000 students currently enrolled at Sanger High School.
Reedley seniors enjoy 'paint afternoon' with friends
Photos Contributed
ABOVE: Seniors at the Reedley Senior Center learned to paint during the center's event.
BELOW: The finished product, a snowman with the words "Let it Snow" underneath took several hours to complete.
Contributed
Area seniors participated in a paint afternoon event at the Reedley Senior Center on Jan. 9. There were 13 seniors and two caregivers who par- ticipated in the activity. The instructor was Ariana Jimenez and her helper was Madison Leighty.
Jodi Botello, Reedley Se- nior Coordinator, said she learned this was the first paint event at the senior center, and it was an afternoon filled with laughter and fun.
Botello said seniors are looking forward to the next planned painting activity.
More photos on page A11
A member of the Reedley Senior Center held up their finished art- work following the event.